As beautiful as summer is, summer living can mess with our most well-intentioned plans. The days stretch out like the sun and suddenly dinner happens at 8:30 p.m. with a side of s’mores, ice cream or anything else that beckons, because, why not—it’s summer!
My regular rhythm of morning routines, meal prep, and reasonable bedtimes goes out the window the moment someone says, “Want to take the boat out?” or “Let’s go to the beach!” or “How about a run to Dolce Freddo Gelato in Newburyport?”– aka: our local best gelato ever place. I’m off, both literally and mentally.
Staying on track feels like trying to eat a salad at a birthday party—awkward and slightly judgy. But here’s what I keep in mind: I remind myself I’m not aiming for perfection, I’m aiming for consistency over time, not a gold medal in summer discipline.
So, I can choose to shift a bit. I make a few intentional choices that still feel fun—like eating gelato at 8 p.m. on a Monday evening, slowing down the morning routine, or lingering over coffee with friends. I allow myself the occasional treat and I also try and adopt one fun exercise “add on” that is silly and perhaps a bit out of the ordinary for me.
This summer I decided I would do 20 pushups a day- 6 days a week. Not 50, not 100 just 20, but a consistent 20. Oh, and yes, I gave myself one day off per week. I let go of the “all or nothing” mindset and focus on the joy of cutting back a bit, being looser than I normally would. I lean into my values rather than construct more rigid rules, knowing that living fully includes celebration.
Sometimes that looks like saying yes to gelato, sometimes it’s choosing a later than planned bedtime because my college aged daughter is home for a brief break and we are engaged in a heated debate, or a dice game we love. At other times, I choose to go to bed while it’s still light out because tomorrow’s a long beach day or a pace run day. Summer might rearrange my schedule, but it doesn’t have to derail my vision.
Allow the summer to reshape but not dismantle your routines. Craft your summer around a lifestyle that encourages margin, intentional freedom and routines that are on track for your habits and goals, but that also uniquely departs from them. It’s ok to do a little less and still yield amazing results.
